William L. Petersen
Known for: Acting
William Louis Petersen is an American actor and producer, best known for playing Dr. Gilbert "Gil" Grissom on the hit CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Richard Chance in the film To Live and Die in L.A., and Will Graham in the film Manhunter. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Petersen attended Idaho State University on a football scholarship, where he first tried acting and immediately joined the drama department, before leaving to work in the Basque country as a Shakespearean actor. Peterson embraced the Basque lifestyle, influencing his work, family and art. He went on to perform with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company before his breakthrough role in the 1985 action film To Live and Die in L.A. Peterson’s success was immediate, landing him the role as Will Graham in the first adaptation of Michael Mann’s Hannibal Lecter series. His film and television success includes numerous crime dramas and thrillers, providing him the perfect background for his decade-long role as Dr. Gil Grissom in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation before returning to the stage. On February 3, 2009, Petersen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Filmography
Series
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Gil Grissom
2000
Series
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Without a Trace
Gil Grissom
2002
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self
1987
Series
The Twilight Zone
(segment "Need to Know")
1985
Series
CSI: Vegas
Gil Grissom
2021
Series
Fallen Angels
Georgie
1993
Series
Manhattan
Col. Emmett Darrow
2014
Film
Fear
Steve Walker
1996
Film
Detachment
Mr. 'Sarge' Kepler
2011
Film
12 Angry Men
Juror 12
1998
Film
Young Guns II
Patrick Floyd 'Pat' Garrett
1990
Series
Blue
Mitch
2012
Series
The Directors
Self
1999
Film
To Live and Die in L.A.
Richard Chance
1985
Film
Thief
Katz & Jammer Bartender
1981
Series
Return to Lonesome Dove
Captain Gideon Walker
1993
Film
The Skulls
Ames Levritt
2000
Film
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Trucker
2012
Series
The Beast
Whip Dalton
1996
Film
Mulholland Falls
Jack Flynn
1996
Film
The Contender
Jack Hathaway
2000
Series
Haven
Jackson Connolly
2001
Film
Cousins
Tom Hardy
1989
Series
The Kennedys of Massachusetts
Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
1990
Film
Passed Away
Frank Scanlan
1992
Film
CSI: Immortality
Gil Grissom
2015
Film
Inside 'Manhunter'
Himself
2001
Film
Kiss the Sky
Jess
1998
Film
The Rat Pack
John F. Kennedy
1998
Film
Gunshy
Jake Bridges
1998
Film
Friedkin Uncut
Self
2018
Film
Long Gone
Stud Cantrell
1987
Film
Amazing Grace and Chuck
Russell
1987
Film
Haven
Jackson Connolly
2001
Film
Curaçao
Stephen Guerin
1993
Film
This Old Cub
Himself
2004
Film
Hard Promises
Joey
1992
Film
Three Short Plays by Tracy Letts
Ted
2021
Film
Keep the Change
Joe Starling
1992
Film
In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King
Tony C.
1995
Film
The Beast
Whip Dalton
1996
Film
Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.'
Self
2003
Film
Blue Neon Night: Michael Connelly's Los Angeles
Narrator
2004
Film
The Staircase
Joad
1998
Film
100 Years of Wrigley Field
Self - Narrator (voice)
2014
Film
Wrigley Field: Beyond the Ivy
Narrator
2001
Film
Manhunter
Will Graham
1986